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The story: A Pause at Home Plate

Sam and Theo were friends at an elementary school in Southern California. Sam was seven, and Theo was eight. They loved baseball.

At practice, Sam stepped up to home plate. Theo stood too close behind him.

Sam swung his bat. By accident, it struck Theo in the face. Theo fell and cried out.

Sam dropped the bat. He started toward first base, just as he had practiced.

“Stop! The game is over for now,” Coach Maya called. “We need to help Theo.”

Sam stopped at once. His stomach felt tight.

An adult called for an ambulance. Coach Maya stayed with Theo while another adult led the other children away. Soon, trained helpers arrived and rushed Theo to the hospital. His parents met him there.

Sam sat beside the coach. “I didn’t mean to hurt him,” he whispered.

“I know,” she said. “It was an accident. Right now, the doctors are helping him.”

Later, Sam’s dad got a call. Theo was awake and talking. He had survived the accident. The doctors were still caring for him.

Sam let out a long breath. He made a card with a baseball on the front.

“I’m sorry you got hurt,” he wrote. “I hope you feel better soon.”

A few days later, Theo called him.

“Thanks for the card,” Theo said. “I’m resting. I miss our team.”

“We miss you, too,” Sam said.

At the next practice, Coach Maya showed everyone where to wait, far from a swinging bat. No one would swing until she said the space was clear.

Sam looked toward first base. He still wanted to play. But now he knew that helping a friend mattered more than reaching a base.

Words to know

An accident is something harmful that happens without anyone meaning for it to happen.

An ambulance is a vehicle that takes sick or hurt people to get medical help.

Survived means stayed alive after something dangerous.

Find it in the story

1. What sport did Sam and Theo like to play?

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2. Where was Theo standing when Sam swung the bat?

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3. Why did Coach Maya stop the game?

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Think about the story

4. How did Sam show that he cared about Theo after the accident?

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5. Why was helping Theo more important than reaching first base?

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Your turn to write

Write 3–5 sentences about being a caring teammate. What could you say to a hurt friend? How could you help everyone play safely?

Use a voice recording

You can start with: “A caring teammate can…”

About this story

This is a made-up story about fictional friends. The accident is not shown in the illustration. The game stops so adults can get help.

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AssignmentsGrade 3ReadingWritingSports